Frank Morrison (23 November 1859 – 12 March 1949) was a Canadian trade union leader.
Born in Franktown, Canada West, Morrison grew up in Walkerton, where he became a printer. In 1886, he moved to Chicago, and there he joined the International Typographical Union. He qualified in law at Lake Forest University, and joined the Illinois Bar.
Morrison became active in the American Federation of Labor (AFL), within which he was a supporter of Samuel Gompers and the conservative wing of the movement, and he opposed organizing recent immigrants or black workers. He was first elected as secretary of the AFL in 1897. In 1919, he attended the conference which founded the International Labour Organization. He successfully argued for a wide range of labour legislation, for the creation of the Department of Labor, and for the creation of the Social Security system.
In 1936, the role of treasurer was added to Morrison's position in the AFL. He finally retired in 1939, at the age of eighty, and he died ten years later.
References
- ^ Arnesen, Eric (2007). Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-class History. Routledge. p. 925. ISBN 9780415968263.
- Fink, Gary M. (1984). Biographical Dictionary of American Labor. Greenwood. ISBN 9780313228650.
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byAugust McCraith | Secretary of the American Federation of Labor 1897–1935 |
Succeeded byPosition merged |
| Preceded byNew position | Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Labor 1936–1939 |
Succeeded byGeorge Meany |